Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland Inspectorate of Gibraltar
World War II & it's effect on Calpe Lodge
World War II & it's effect on Calpe Lodge
In Europe things were edgy, Hitler having seized the remainder of Czechoslovakia in March, by September the 1st, the German armies were marching into Poland, and on September 3rd, the British and French surprised Hitler by declaring war on Germany.
The year we are talking about is 1939. The Worshipful Master of Calpe Lodge in 1939 was Bro T. W. Mason, who was elected to office Monday 14th November, 1938. He was initiated 11th February, Passed 11th March and Raised 8th April 1935.
The Minutes of the Regular and Installation meeting, Monday 9th January 1939, held at the Masonic Institute, which at that time was in Cornwall's Parade, describes his Installation:-
The Installing Officer, Very Wor Bro Batten Past G. D. of C of Ireland, then announced his intention to install the Wor' Master Elect Bro. T. W. Mason S.W. and called on all below the rank of Installed Master to retire, after Bro Mason had been conducted around the Lodge and had pledged his adherence to the several charges required, which were read by Wor Bro Taylor P.M. Secretary, and accepted in due form by Bro Mason W.M. elect.
At this Installation meeting the first hint of military movement occurred:-
Wor Bro Taylor P.M. then proposed and it was seconded by Wor Bro Brown P.M. Sec' that an emergency meeting be called on Monday the 16th day of January 1939 at 9.0 pm for the purpose of initiating Mr Roland John Stewart (Sgt Royal Engineers, proposed 12th December 1938) who was being relieved through the exigency of H. M. services and wished to be initiated before leaving Gibraltar. This proposition was discussed, and then placed before the Brethren by the Wor Master and carried unanimously.
However the presence of Calpe's Worshipful Master, Wor. Bro. Mason's was not to last long.
In the above mentioned Emergency Meeting Mr Stewart was
'initiated into Freemasonry by the Wor' Master. Bro Whetten being the conductor. The newly initiated Brother was presented with the Bye - Laws of this Lodge by the Wor Master, who expressed his regret that Bro Stewart was leaving before completing his M.M. degree.'
Wor Bro T. W. Mason's last meeting was at the communication of February 10th
Item 1 - The Lodge was opened in due form by the Wor' Master, Wor Bro T. W. Mason at 7.15 pm. The only Minutes confirmed by Wor Bro Mason are the 9th & 16th of January 1939. At the Stated Communication held March 13th, correspondence was read - 6 (b) A letter regretting his unavoidable absence from the Wor Master and thanking the Lodge for their confidence in placing him in the Chair, for their support and for the pleasant times he has had with the Brethren. Item 1 - The Lodge was opened in due form by the Wor' Master, Wor Bro T. W. Mason at 7.15 pm. The only Minutes confirmed by Wor Bro Mason are the 9th & 16th of January 1939. At the Stated Communication held March 13th, correspondence was read - 6 (b) A letter regretting his unavoidable absence from the Wor Master and thanking the Lodge for their confidence in placing him in the Chair, for their support and for the pleasant times he has had with the Brethren.
It should be mentioned that Mason's office was filled for the remainder of 1939, by Wor Bro's Brown, Taylor, Tabb, Nuza and Johnston.
Troop movements was the cause of this loss to the Lodge, and also being the cause that led to a decline in the number of attending members.
Its interesting to note that the Minutes of the stated communication held on March 13th are confirmed by James Johnston. In the March meeting it is established who this 'Johnston' was
March 13th, Item 8, Wor Bro. The Rev Canon James Johnston P.M. E.C. was proposed as a honorary member by Wor Bro S. W. Taylor.
This decline of attending members can be seen by the Minutes of April 10th
'The a/Wor Master (Wor Bro Taylor) explained that owing to pressure of duty several of the P.M.S & Brethren were unavoidably absent and expressed his confidence in the ability of the Brethren present to carry out the duty of the offices to which they had been allotted to meet the unforeseen emergency.'
Item 2 - The Minutes of the previous stated communication were read, and after a slight addition thereto, were approved and confirmed by the a/Wor Master. Wor Bro J. Johnston P.M. E.C. who had taken the Chair of the Lodge while Wor Bro S. W. Taylor read the Minutes.
A sad note arises in the Minutes of August 14th
The Secretary rose to explain that he had approached Wor Bro Horton P.M. (1929) pointing out to him that he was so seriously in arrears that it would be necessary for the Lodge to take steps to strike him off the books if the position became no better, and that Wor Bro Horton had replied that it was his object to be so struck off; he pointed out that it was no grievance he had against Calpe Lodge that caused him to adopt this attitude but other Masonic matters in another Constitution. The Lodge decided:- that the Registered Letter as required by the Bye Laws be sent forthwith.
Again poor numbers as well as difficulty in attending are noted
September 9th, The Lodge was opened at 7-5 pm by Wor Bro S. W. Taylor by the kind consent of Wor Bro E. Tabb P.M. Item 4 - There being but few members present owing to the remainder being prevented from attending by their duties etc. Item 5 - Neither Bro O'Dea nor Bro Peso being present the G.L. Certificates were not presented, but the Brethren indicated that the a/Secy could present that of Bro O'Dea outside of the Lodge, owing to Bro O'Dea having difficulty in attending owing to his military duties.
By this time, war had been declared on Germany, and in the Minutes of October 9th we see
A letter was also received from Wor Bro J. E. Deale J.W. regretting his non attendance which he explained were due to the exacting nature of his duties in preparing the Colonial Hospital for war emergencies.
I should add despite being entered that as a 'Wor' Bro, Bro Deale was not yet a 'Worshipful Brother.'
At the Installation of January 8th, we hear again of Wor. Bro. Mason
Item 11 - The communications were read - and a telegram from the I.P.M. Wor Bro T Mason conveying fraternal greetings.
Item 12 - Wor Bro W Brown proposed, & Wor Bro S W Taylor seconded that a P.M.'s Jewel in silver be bought for Wor Bro T Mason I.P.M. in recognition of his services to the Lodge.
With the war underway problems obviously arose with non resident Brethren having to pay their dues
Monday 12th February:-
Item 6 - to give effect to a circular letter from Grand Lodge the following notice should be printed on the Agenda for the month of March. 'Special Notice to Brethren on Active Service'. 'Brethren on Active Service who for any reason find difficulty in paying their Lodge Dues, should submit their cases to the Lodge with a view to obtaining permission to remit such payment. Such cases will be considered separately and suitable recommendation will be made to Grand Lodge to obtain Grand Lodge consent'. 'Active Service' is defined as any cause arising directly from the present hostilities.
Calpe Lodge was concerned about the effects of war, and wanted clarification on how Brethren could pay their dues, they wrote to Grand Lodge
Minutes, Monday 11th March -
the Secretary was instructed to write to the Grand Secretary explaining owing to the peculiar circumstances existing in Gibraltar, that nearly the whole of our members are effected by War Conditions and asking if the definition of 'Active Service', as laid down by Grand Lodge in the 1939 Report, could be modified in such a manner that any Bro of the Lodge, who was directly and adversely affected by war conditions could be considered as being on Active Service and so benefit by the remission of dues.
From the following Minutes it appears that matters not only for Calpe but Gibraltar as well were worsening
Minutes June 10th -
owing to uneasiness caused by the entry into hostilities of Italy and the fact that several brethren were called away to their various duties and that all felt that their presence was required elsewhere, it was decided by the Wor Master to postpone the remainder of the business.
Another matter that effected many Gibraltarian families during this period, was the evacuation, here we can see a typical example and indeed the length that Calpe went to
Minutes July 8th,
In answer to an appeal from the Distrcit Grand Lodge E.C. it was decided, on the proposition of Wor Bro Taylor, seconded by Wor Bro Tabb, DofC. that, notwithstanding that it is contrary to the Bye Laws of the Lodge, as an emergency measure the sum of £3 be granted to Wor Bro Freyone to assist him and his family in the evacuation to Morocco.
A strange event occurred in January 1942, again affecting a Worshipful Master
Minutes 12th January,
The Master-elect Bro J E Deale being unavoidably absent though illness and there being very little possibility of his return until several months have passed, the WM announced that the ceremony of installation would be proceeded with as a lodge of instruction.
In fact Bro Deale is shown in the Summons dated 1st July, as Master Elect for the stated communication on Monday 13th July, but was not installed until September.
We once again see the effects of the war in the Installation Minutes dated 12th January 1942:-
Bros N Cumming S.D., Byrne & Ellis were absent through duty and Bros Osman (elected Inner Guard) & Chambers (elected Ass. Secretary) had left the colony at short notice owing to the exigencies of H.M. Services and consequently were not invested.
On this occasion it effected a candidate
13th July 1942,
The candidate being absent through the exigencies of the wartime service, the W M requested Wor Bro E Morgan PM to give the lecture on the second English tracing board, which he did very ably and to the edification of the Brn present. Another member of Calpe had suffered the consequences of war - A further letter from Mrs P. E. Porter, widow of the late Bro P. E. Porter explaining the circumstances in which she finds herself since her husbands death on active service.
Worshipful Brother Deale again experienced problems in attending the Lodge
October 12th,
Wor Bro Cumming tendered regrets and apologies to the Brn on behalf of the WM, Wor Bro Deale who was unable to attend on account of urgent professional duties at the hospital.
In the Emergency Meeting of 30th October, Wor Bro Deale, probably through the pressure of work at the hospital
'requested Wor Bro Whettem's assistance in conferring of the degree(M.M.) and Wor Bro Whettem then took over the chair.' Afterwards 'resumed the duties of the chair.'
Another blow to a member of Calpe was heard by the members, in a letter read in open Lodge on the communication of 8th February 1943
Mrs D Eason, wife of Bro William James Eason (initiated in Calpe 12/12/1927), informing the Lodge that her husband who was serving with HM Submarine 'Thorn' had been reported 'missing believed dead' on August 11th last. A letter was also received from :- the cashier HM Dockyard advising receipt of a remittance of £5 for the lodge from Bro E.J. Philips (initiated in Calpe 11/02/1924) which could not be paid until it was known from what ship it was sent, and a letter from Bro Phillips himself informing us of the remittance but with no indication of the name of the ship.
The problems of dues once again arose
12th July 1943,
a letter from Bro Holbrook (initiated in Calpe 22/10/1926) explaining difficulties in forwarding dues due to wartime situation.
The Master's of Calpe Lodge certainly had problems in attending during the war years, another example was the Master in 1943, W. Bro Rowan, who through duty was unable to attend the meetings of 10th May, 9th August, 29th September and 8th November. The last meeting in 1943, he also missed
8th December,
the Lodge was opened in form at 7.30 pm by the a/W.M. W Bro Whettem as the W.M. was unavoidably absent through duty.
On all the occasions that Wor Bro Rowan was unable to attend, Wor Bro Whettem filled his office.
A similar fate happened in 1944 with the Worshipful Master Norman Cumming, missing the communications of April, May, July, August, September, October, November and December, his office being filled by Wor. Bro's Rowan and Whettem.
One other factor affecting Gibraltar and Calpe Lodge was the Naval Dockyard, as it was from the dockyard that many tradesmen applied to Calpe. In the January meeting alone we had the following persons apply - Bro Herbert Graham, S.W. of Premier Masonic Lodge No. 529 I.C., Chargeman of shipwrights, Mr George Nicholas Chart Assistant, Mr Herbert Shergold, Chargeman of Welders, all based at HM Dockyard. During the rest of the year we had the following tradesmen apply, again based at the dockyard - Foreman Engineering Branch, Electrical Fitters, Civil Servants, Electrical Wiremen and Chart Assistants.
An interesting letter was read in open Lodge on the 11th September, showing the bond that non-resident members had with Calpe
Bro Buriss, an American brother of long standing in our Lodge, transmitting $25 for payment of arrears and dues till 1st January 1946.
As most of us are aware the end of hostilities came in 1945, the U.S. and British governments declaring May 8th V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The full unconditional surrender took effect at one minute past midnight after a second signing in Berlin with Soviet participation.
The first mention in the Minutes that showed signs that there was an end of hostilities came in the Minutes dated 11th June 1945
Item 9 - Very W. Bro. Tabb commented on the post war Masonry and the possible inability of Brethren's financial status.
Very Worshipful Brother Edmund Tabb, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies, was at that time - Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in Gibraltar.
Note: This Article was Written by W.Bro Vince J Power in response to a request by the Worshipful Master, Charlie Noguera (2001), This period (WW2) was of particular interest to him, and he suggested gathering a couple of Minute entries to be read in Open Lodge. Rather than read complete Minutes, perhaps only containing small pieces of information, W.Bro power decided to put together these pieces so that they could be read in Open Lodge. they have now been converted into above format for viewing on our website.
by W.Bro V.J.Power L.C.G.I.
by W.Bro V.J.Power L.C.G.I.
